My chance of getting into these school?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi! I’m an international applicant from China, who have been studying in Singapore since I was 9 and have obtained Permanent Residence here. Upon looking through the requirements, I am unsure of my chance of admission.He is my information:

Academic:
-From Top/2nd Junior College (Grade 11-12 equivalent) in the nation, Singapore, extremely competitive, current overall level ranking: slightly above 50% (my sch don’t practice class ranking)

-My percentile in sec 3 and 4 (Grade 9-10 equivalent) is consistently top 10% in school (Secondary school not the best in Singapore, but is still a renown school)

-O level Raw Score(Without bonus):
7 SS/Geog A2, English B4, Others: Math, Additional Mathematic, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Chinese, Higher Chinese A1
Received award for outstanding O level result during Speech Day
-Participated in research program in local research institution
-Represented school in participating Chemistry olympiad (didn’t win)
-SAT: 1430 May 2017 (reading&writing:660 Math:770)

Non-academic:
-Vice President of my club in both secondary school and JC
-Won National Level Award (GOLD) for my CCA in Secondary School (Uniform Group)
-CCA receive unit award GOLD in secondary school
-Leader of sports committee in secondary school
-Received Outstanding Contribution Award as vice president and sports committee
-Did many CIP activities (around 140h in secondary school,100h in JC)
-Secretary-treasurer of an Internationally recognized community service project

Family：
-Low household income (not intending to take up financial aid, parents sell their house for my college tuition fee)
-Both parents have low educational level (First generation undergraduate)

Schools intending to apply:
U Michigan
UCLA
UC Berkeley
UC San Diego
UPenn
NYU
Boston University
Cornell??

Frankly speaking, do you guys think that I have a shot for these universities? I’m worried because I’m an international applicant.

Pls comment if you are experienced in this field. Much thanks!!

2

You may want to bring up your SAT score for some top schools on your list.

3

You have a match with NYU and Boston.
I would say that the rest are high-reaches.
I would suggest that you consider WHY you want to go to these prestigious schools you listed. Different people have different reasons and you may want to consider your reason.
If it’s because you want to have a good salary when you graduate, you will find that the differences are usually in just a few thousand. If it’s for the recognition of the name, you might get one person per year ask you where you graduated from, maybe less. If on the other hand, it’s a matter of convenience and distance and sibling-legacy, and cost, these might be better reasons.

If your parents sell their home to afford college, they will have to work so much longer, I’m sure you don’t want that. If in stead, you go to a school where your 1430 SAT scores is above the average in that school, you will get merit-aid, and a low tuition.

Please tell us your intended major so we can suggest a number of good schools. So far you have a 770 in math so I’m going to suggest Rensselaer Polytechnic for your 1430 SAT which will get you a very nice financial aid award.

4

Bad idea for your parents to sell their house to pay for your Undergrad. Not sure why you are not applying for financial aid (although you do not qualify for US Federal funds) since you do need it? There are colleges in the US that offer International students FA, but most will either be highly prestigious and extremely competitive or some many not have the name recognition you might want. Applying for no financial aid may only help with need-aware schools and UCLA/UCB/UCSD are not, so no advantage there. Not sure about the other schools on your list.

You do have a shot at these schools, but I agree that bumping up your SAT score will help.

5

Hi, Thank you so much for your responses. The reason for why I’m intending to apply for US schools is that US universities cost around the same as compared to Singapore University since I’m a foreigner. I’m intending to major in health Professions (e.g. Pharmacy) or finance.I’m not very sure of the standard of some universities in the US. Is there any safety schools with scholarship you can recommend? thank you!!

6

My parents are worried that if I choose some schools that other are unheard of, it might not be recognized internationally. Since I’m unsure if I could find a job later in the US and might have to be forced to go back to China/Singapore.

7

For international financial help try these.

http://financialaid.lmu.edu/prospective/scholarships/lmuacademicscholarshipsforfreshmen/
http://louisville.edu/admissions/aid/scholarships/mentored-scholarships/jgb
https://www2.howard.edu/admission/cost-of-attendance
http://www.salem.edu/admissions/scholarships
http://www.uky.edu/financialaid/scholarship-incoming-freshmen
http://www.wofford.edu/richardsonScholars/scholarshipInfo/
http://www.smu.edu/Academics/PS/Benefits
https://www.hendrix.edu/financialaid/scholarships/
http://www.soka.edu/admission_aid/Financial_Aid/merit_based_financial_aid.aspx
http://admissions.miami.edu/undergraduate/financial-aid/scholarships/stamps-leadership-scholarship/index.html
https://www.barry.edu/stamps/
http://www.drake.edu/admission/undergraduate/costsfinancialaid/typesofaid/scholarships/nationalalumni/
http://undergrad.osu.edu/cost-and-aid/merit-based-scholarships

You may want to consider going to a community college for 2 years and then transfer out on your third and fourth year to a more prestigious school of your choice. That will save you about $100k in tuition.